KATHMANDU: Flights have resumed today at Phaplu Airport in the tourism-rich Solukhumbu district after a 17-day disruption. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) office in Phaplu, operations were halted since June 9 due to adverse weather conditions.

Senior CAAN officer Ayush Thapa stated that a Nepal Airlines Twin Otter aircraft successfully flew from Kathmandu to Phaplu on Wednesday and returned to the capital. While the aircraft brought 12 passengers to Phaplu, it carried 10 passengers back to Kathmandu.

Due to frequent changes in local weather, flight suspensions are common in the region. Persistent rainfall and thick fog had kept the airport shut for 17 consecutive days.

Local resident Padam Shrestha shared that it had become extremely difficult to send critically ill and disabled patients to Kathmandu for treatment. Health workers said the lives of seriously ill patients were at risk during the flight suspension.

Pemba Sherpa, another local, mentioned that in the absence of air transport, referred patients had to be transported by road to Okhaldhunga or Biratnagar, taking several hours.

While Lukla remains the primary gateway for tourists visiting the Everest region, Phaplu serves as an alternative access point. According to transport operator Mingmar Sherpa, tourists aiming to reach Lukla via Phaplu were forced to change their plans due to flight disruptions caused by bad weather.